Chapter 147: Playing a Few Moves with the Little Blondie
As Haruko strolled into the arena, Atsui was already standing in the center of the field.
"Third match, Haruko versus Atsui!"
As Genma's voice rang out, the spectator stands erupted.
"It's here! Konoha versus Cloud Hidden! This is the match I came to see today!"
"Both of them are so young..."
"A duel between young geniuses from the Five Great Ninja Villages, we're in for a good show!"
"I've finally been waiting for you! Haruko!" Atsui drew his ninja sword and pointed it at Haruko. "I look forward to your guidance."
Atsui's loud, boisterous voice remained clear even in the noisy arena.
"Alright, alright, I look forward to it..." Haruko rubbed his ears. "Your boisterousness and that head of blond hair remind me of a certain fox kid."
"Begin!"
As soon as the words fell, Atsui charged out like a cannonball, his ninja sword igniting with flames as he slashed down.
"Demon Destruction Style: Flame Form First Style — Unknowable Fire!"
There was nothing fancy, just pure power and speed.
Having anticipated this, Haruko began forming hand seals the moment the match started, leaping backward to maintain distance.
Unlike his usual opening with Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, Haruko knew Atsui would use a Fire Release Chakra blade, so fire shrapnel would inevitably be ineffective.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough."
A violent gust of wind blew from Haruko's mouth, hindering Atsui's advance while allowing Haruko to retreat even faster.
"This kind of petty trick—"
The gale blew across the ground, and the stirred-up dust covered Atsui's face.
By the time he could see clearly again, Haruko had already retreated from the center of the arena to the base of the wall.
"Earth Release: Earth House."
Thin earthen walls rose up one by one, separating the two of them.
In the blink of an eye, the layered earthen walls formed a labyrinth around Haruko.
"You guy, is that all you can do is hide!"
Atsui slashed his ninja sword at the earthen wall, and the wall in front of him was torn apart like paper.
Behind the earthen wall—was another earthen wall.
"Arghhhh!!"
An exasperated Atsui hacked his way to the base of the wall with his ninja sword, only to discover that Haruko was long gone.
Only a large hole remained, sitting lonely in place, with some unknown liquid bubbling out of it.
Realizing he had been tricked, Atsui hurriedly tried to retreat, only to find he couldn't lift his legs.
Looking down, he saw the liquid had spread to his feet, sticking him in place like glue.
His skin felt numb, and Atsui's intuition told him Haruko's next attack was coming.
"Lightning Release: Ground Run."
The lightning traveled along the starch syrup, but Haruko didn't feel like he had hit his target.
"Hmm? He's got a bit of a brain after all."
The last earthen wall separating them shattered, revealing Atsui, completely unharmed.
The debris of the earthen walls behind him vaguely formed a path—he had used it to step over and avoid the starch syrup and the electric shock.
"How's that, I...!?!"
Atsui wanted to boast a little, but he only saw a huge fireball rushing towards his face—Haruko had been waiting in battle formation for him to come out.
"Don't underestimate me!"
In that instant, Atsui's focus reached its limit, and the fireball before his eyes seemed to slow down.
"Oh—! Demon Destruction Style: Flame Form Third Style — Explosive Flame Universe!"
The flaming ninja sword slashed towards the fireball, actually splitting it in two!
"Haa... haa..."
Atsui maintained his slashing posture, his chest heaving violently.
Sparks were still floating in the air, and a look of triumph appeared on his face—
Two palms reached out from the ground, precisely gripping Atsui's ankles.
The next second, his entire body was dragged into the ground, leaving only his head exposed.
"Headhunter Jutsu."
Atsui struggled to climb out, but found the surrounding soil had been reinforced with Chakra, making it as hard as steel; he couldn't break free for a while.
Looking up, the Haruko in the distance turned into white smoke and dissipated, revealing a hole in the ground—it was a clone technique.
"Hey... that kid just used Five Release Ninjutsu, right?"
"That's right, although none of them were high-level Ninjutsu, they were coordinated and interlocking. That Cloud Hidden Ninja didn't stand a chance at all."
"It feels like he wasn't even fighting seriously. That ninja sword on his back isn't just a decoration, is it?"
Haruko's real body squatted down next to Atsui and smilingly patted his head: "It's over, little blondie."
"The winner is, Yun—"
"I don't accept this!!"
Atsui's roar interrupted Genma.
"What stupid things are you saying? The winner has already been decided." Genma looked down at him. "Hurry up and climb out and go back to the stands."
Atsui ignored Genma and just glared at Haruko.
"You clearly know how to use swordsmanship, just like you did against that Konoha Ninja in the preliminaries! Why don't you use your full strength against me! Do you look down on me!"
The head buried in the soil flushed red, its eyes burning with unwillingness and fanaticism.
"I want to challenge you to a sword fight! A fair and square fight!"
Meanwhile, a commotion broke out in the stands.
Starting from the area where the Cloud Hidden Ninjas were, the noise grew louder and louder, gradually swaying many of the uninformed spectators.
"Sword fight! Sword fight!"
"The Cloud Hidden kid is right, what's the point of holding back!"
"Let us see some real skills too!"
Haruko looked at Atsui with some sympathy—this silly kid's impulsive personality was being exploited.
He didn't respond immediately, but looked up at the Third Hokage at the highest point.
The Third Hokage sat there calmly, neither signaling Genma to announce the verdict nor speaking to stop it.
Only when Haruko's gaze turned to him did he slightly raise his eyelids.
The old man still had that kind smile on his face. He did not signal Genma to announce the verdict, nor did he speak to stop the commotion.
Only when Haruko's gaze turned to him did he slightly nod.
"Tsk, old fox."
Haruko cursed in his heart.
This exam had been a political mission from the start—to show strength and intimidate the other villages.
Since he had already received the Multi Shadow Clone scrolls and guidance on Sage Mode, the promised mission should be completed.
Besides, it wouldn't take much effort, just playing a few moves with the silly kid.
"Sigh, alright, I accept."
As Haruko drew his ninja sword, the whole arena instantly quieted down, and countless gazes focused on him.
He stepped back a few paces, watching Atsui climb out of the dirt pit.
Although the boy was disheveled, his eyes shone with ecstasy: "Good! That's it! This is the duel I wanted!"
"By the way, who did you learn your swordsmanship from?" Haruko asked, as if it were a casual question.
"It was a swordsman of the Demon Destruction Style, Mr. Yoriichi!" Atsui set his stance, flames igniting on his ninja sword.
"Is that so..." Haruko also set his stance, flames igniting on his ninja sword. "Then, by that logic, you should call me Senior Brother."
The identical stance made Atsui's pupils shrink, and then he burst into laughter.
"Haha, so your swordsmanship was also taught by Mr. Yoriichi? Then please guide me, Senior Brother! Here I come!"
Atsui shouted explosively, his figure shooting out like an arrow from a bowstring!
"Demon Destruction Style: Flame Form First Style — Unknowable Fire!"
Haruko used the same move in response.
"Flame Breathing: First Form — Unknowable Fire!"
The two of them, like mirror images, swung their ninja swords.
Clang—
The swords clashed, and it was Atsui's ninja sword that was deflected.
Haruko took the opportunity to step forward and delivered a shoulder bash to the wide-open Atsui, sending him stumbling back several steps before he could steady himself, but he did not pursue further.
The difference in skill was immediately apparent.
Because it was the same move, the gap was even more obvious by comparison.
"Continue, use whatever other moves you know." Haruko beckoned to Atsui. "Senior Brother won't bully you; I'll just fight you using the moves you know."
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